Combustion heater



Filed Feb. 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR [aria/ [usfzj ATTORNEYS March 8, 1955 ug-n3 2,703,565

COMBUSTION HEATER I Filed Feb. 1 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR :D M121 Md. Km

ATTORNEYS United States Patent COMBUSTION HEATER Ludwig Lustig, Manhasset, N. Y., assiguor to Diesel Dynamics Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 1, 1951, Serial No. 208,888

2 Claims. (Cl. 126-116) This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved heating apparatus employing gasoline or similar liquid as its fuel source and which heater will be self-contained in the sense that it will require no connection to electric power-supplying leads for its continuing operation.

It is an object of the invention to furnish an apparatus of this nature which will function as a heater for general purposes. As such, it may be portable and will be relatively compact, apparatus embodying the present teachings being quick starting and continuing in operation over indefinite periods of time with maximum fuel economy and B. t. u. transfer.

By means of the present invention a heater is provided which will be ideally adapted for use in connection with internal combustion engines and similar installations where it is desired-under extremely low temperature conditions-to initiate the operation of such engine or similar assembly.

A still further object is that of providing an apparatus which may be advantageously employed for general heat ing purposes such as the warming of a room or other enclosure and in which the operation of the heater may be initiated with the expenditure of minimum amounts of effort and time, the heater thereafter being self-operating in the sense that it will require only minimal manual superv1s1on.

An additional object is that of providing an apparatus of this nature which will embody relatively few parts each individually simple and rugged in construction such parts being capable of ready manufacture and assemblage to furnish a unitary apparatus operating over long periods of time with a minimum of difficulty.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heater associated with an engine of the internal combustion type;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the heater as shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing an alternative form of structure especially suited for general heating purposes. I

Referring primarily to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 5 indicates the block of an engine of the internal combustion type, and with which there is associated in the usual manner a crank case 6. A battery (not shown) may be contained within a receptacle 7. A heater defined by a casing 8 of any desired configuration may have extending from it a tube or pipe 9 connected to the jacket of block 5. A similar pipe 10 conveniently extends from this block and is connected to case 7. A further pipe 11 is also connected with that case as well as the heater base. Pipes 9, 10, and 11 may serve for the circulation of coolant. A further pipe 12 may extend from casing 8 to the sump of the crank case and be connected within the latter to a suitable heat exchange structure (not shown) in the form of coils or embodying any other design. Finally a pipe 13 may also extend from the sump and be connected to the exhaust side or end of the aforementioned heat exchange structure. It is intended that heated air or products of combustion may flow through pipes 12 and 13 and the heater in series with the same for the purpose of relieving any condition of coagulation on the part of the lubricating oil within the crank case 6.

Disposed at a point adjacent this assembly or at a point relatively remote therefrom is a mechanism which is preferably hand operated and by means of which operation of. the heater may be initiated. This mechanism,

as shown in Fig. l, conveniently includes a generator 14 which may be of the six volt direct current type and an air circulating unit 15 secured to operate in synchronism with the generator shaft. This air circulating unit will be in the form of a blower which, in view of the fact that it is forcing air towards the heater, will have its exhaust end connected by a pipe 16 with that heater. It is, of course, apparent that a reverse flow could be employed should the air circulating unit be connected to the exhaust side of the heater. From the generator 14 leads 17 extend to the heater. The generator and blower are operated conveniently by a crank 18 which by means of a gear train within a casing 19 serves to turn the generator shaft at proper speed. Finally with reference to Fig. 1, it will be observed that a fuel tank 20 is connected by a pipe 21 with the heater casing 8. In common with that heater casing the tank 20 may be located adjacent or, at a point relatively remote from, the assembly.

The internal structure of the heater is shown in Fig. 2 in which the reference numeral 22 indicates the main heater casing provided with an upper closure 23 and a. lower cover 24. As shown in these views the air supply pipe 16 and the fuel supply pipe 21 extend into the heater adjacent its upper end. Also extending into that upper end is a tube 25 which may define the inner portion of a combustion chamber. Pipe 16 is conveniently directly connected to the upper end of tube 25. Pipe 21 is similarly connected to that tube through an interposed carburetor assembly 27 which may include a float valve and chamber therefor as at 28, a thermostatically controlled needle valve 29, a primer 30, etc. The liquid fuel from this carburetor passes through the discharge opening 31. Tube 25 is also provided with an opening the flow of air through which may be controlled by an adjustable snifter or check valve 32, the adjustment of which may be made by rotation of knob 32. Finally, with respect to this portion of the apparatus, it will be observed that an electrode assembly 33 may be mounted at the upper end of tube section 25. Leads 17 are connected to this assembly which conveniently includes a glow plug or coil 33 extending beyond tube 25.

Secured to the lower end of tube section 25 is a flared tubular member 34. This provides the main combustion chamber and is formed at its lower end with an outlet opening to which one end of a coil 35 is coupled. That coil is disposed within the main casing 22 of the heater and has its discharge end connected to a low pressure exhaust chamber defined by a casing 36. The cross sectional area of the casing is, of course, greater than that of coil 35. It will be remembered that the hollow tubular member 34 embodies a flared construction. Therefore it is apparent that combustion gases as they expand will tend to flow to the low pressure exhaust chamber. Extending into the latter and beyond the heater casing is an exhaust pipe 37. That pipe will serve to discharge products of may extend from the fitting across the heater and be' formed with an opening defined by a sleeve 44 conveniently interposed and spaced from the outer face of tubular member 34 and its flange 38. The cover 24 is formed with an inlet opening 45. As shown, the cover may be maintained in position by a clamp structure or structures which will permit of its ready removal from and application to the body of the heater 22. Adjacent the partition 39 of the heater body is formed with an outlet opening 46. This outlet may be connected with pipe 9 as shown in Fig. 1. Inlet 45 will be connected with pipe 11 as shown in that figure. Exhaust pipe 37 may be conthe heater. Pipes 9 and 11 being connected as aforede- Patented Mar. 8, 1955 scribed, the coolant' of the engine may circulate around coils-35-, thecasing' Maud-the surfaces-of thetubularcom bustion chamber 34.

In operation with an assembly furnished as in Fig. 1, all that .will.;be necessaryfon an operator toainitiateiaifunotioningofi the apparatus willbe tor-turn crank; 18a Bre viouo to; such turning needle valve; 29: may be. adjusted. ShQUldJ-thiSfbG; desirable; Also. primer; fitflimay' be: actuated: aud1valile32i may. be partially or' wholly closed; by. means ofi knob 31... In any event, witlit the: shaft of the; generaton turning! at. proper speed,.current: willflowr through the-leadslfl to cause the; C(Ji1Si33. to glow. Simultaneously air with be discharged through. pipe. 16 into; the upper: end. off tube. 25 thereby causing: at suctiom on; opening; 31: such astmassistiinthefl'ow ofifiuehthroughthat: openings Even; ii extreme temperatures are: encountered and. the gaso:-- line; or. other fueli doesnohtenct to volatize; droplets: ofthe fiueltwilh deposit onthe'coil; 33? and be. CHHSCIT to; ignite. This. will quickly result in: the interior ofi. the. entire combustion chamber. heating to a: point where; a. propergas mixture flOWSt into thesame. In this connectionzitwilk be appreciated that: valve 4]: will. shift so.- that air: willbe distributed to have a maximunnsurface contacton'flow over theinner face; of flange: 38",. both faces. of. sleeve: 44 and so through the: check valve 32; which will have. beenman ually: adjusted: to:pro,vide.fo1 a; proper setting ofthe parts. When. a proper. condition. of combustion. has; once. oc;-- curred;. then: the operator: may. discontinue turning crank: 18;. It will be found: that under thesecircumstances; a. continuing air flow adequate; to supportproper combustion'. will, occur through the. combustion chamber. and=.coil: 35 intothe low pressure exhaust chamber as. defined by casing:3.6. Thence the. flow will; continue. through. pipe This: continuing air. flow apparently resultstrom. resonant combustion, that is;.cornbustion of an. explosive. nature. which forces the exhaust gases: downwardly and; thereby creates, by; inertia efiects,, a. low. pressure area: that in turn causes. afresh; charge of; air to enter: the: com-- bustion chamber from, above.

Regardless of; the. manner in which combustion con. tinues. it wilt be apparent that the. coolant will flow through inlet 45 and. in contact. with thQVaI'jOUSi heated surfaces; to; escape. through outlet 46.. Therefore the; en. tire jacket: of;' the engine 5'01. other unit will beginto warm; Simultaneously the exhaust. gaseszflowing frompipe 37 will pass in heat exchange relation to the lubricating oil in the. sump and: render the oil, highly liquid. It will. be rememberedrthat; the battery box or: case 7 is'preferably. disposed in series with. pipes I and 11. Therefore: with the. coolant circulating the battery. will: begin to warm.. Also; as the'heatert reaches a proper. operatingv temperature vaLve. assembly 41- will shift so that the. air which enters; throughthe snifter. or check valve. will not. be too:high.ly. heated resulting. in improper. combustiom. As is apparent, after. theheater, hascontinucd in operation. for; an: interval of. time the engine or other. unit connected; therewith. may bestarted. Thereafter the operation of the: heater is conveniently discontinued.

Itwill be appreciated: aheater of this type: not nee essarily' limited foruse. in;initiating thewarming or. heat.-- ingof. an engine orequivalent unit. Rather the. apparatus may be employed to heat a room or other enclosure- A structure which may beausedsintthis connection hasbeen shown in. Fig; 3 in, which. the: numeral 47 indicates: the: main casing of. the. heater to which. there. extends a. fuel; supply pipe 481 and. an air supply pipe 49; Acarburetor: structureandai'r'inlet: assembly indicatedqat 50 and 51 may correspond to. the carburetor structure and snifterrvalveas heretofore described in CODHBCtiOHs with Fig.2. Likes wise electrical leads 52 may be connected to. the electrodes ofaglow, plug or coil 53 .and'an inletfit-ting; 54 may define. an, air intake opening for: combustion: air. Thelower. end' of the unit 55. providingthe combustion chamber is con.-- nested to a coil- 56 in turnconnected tota casingSiZ fur nishing a-low pressureexhaustchamber. In this instance. combustion gases may be exhaustedfirom'. thatchamber through. a stack. 58;

The entire. apparatus may" be spaced! from: a supporting. surfaceas, for example, by legs 59;. In lieu ofian impel? forate or substantially solidI lowen cover,, a wine: mesh 60' may close the lower end of casing 47. That casing is furnished with, any suitablernnmber of, discharge or outlet. openings 61,. Therefore air will be free to'flowupwardly through the casing and in heat exchange contact with the variousw surfaces to escape through the openings 61. Otherwise the apparatus will function in precisely the manner as heretofore described in connection with Fig. 2. It is apparent that in lieu of air other fluid to be heated might be passed through the heater as shown in Fig. 3. Likewise fluids other'than those specified might pass through the heater structure as described in Fig. 2. In any event, an assembly' is furnished, the operation of which may be readily initiatedby manual operation. conti'nuedlfor only; a shortperiod of time. Thereafter the.apparatus will continue to function indefinitely so long as fuel exists. Such functioning will occur under conditions of maximumetfrciency; andrwill: require virtuallyi no manual supervision.

In conclusion ilrwillbeund'erstoodt that the blower indicated at 15 might take one of numerous difierent forms suitable for causing the desired flow of air. Likewise in lieu of the:specific generator designated at 14 a generator at either A. C. on D1 C.. type having adesired and proper: outpnrmighc be employed; With an A gen-- erator' by: means. of a. suitable transforming mechanism it wouldbefeasible toemploy. asparlngap as-the igniting zap-- para-tus. rather than a glow. coil; In fact, incertain instances;. a magneto-might: beemployed. According to thc power which it is necessary; to exercise toeffect anopebation: offithe generatorvariouszmanuali forms or drivetothcr than a. crank. might; be. utilized; Also fuels other" than those requiring canbnretiorr. could: be. employed. These and other apparent changesv will; be within the purview'of' an.- ordinarw person skilled: in. the. art.

Thus, among' others;. the. several objects ot the invention. as; specifically: aforenoted. are achieved. Obviously numerous; changes in: construction and. rearrangement of the parts. might be resorted; toz without departing: from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims I claim:

1;- A heater incl'udingin combination a. casing-formed with. a lowenintake. opening: and an upper outlet opening for the upward. passage ofi fiuidi to be heated, ahollow member disposed within said casing and being down wardlw flared tordefine a: combustion chamber ofi increasing' cross-sectional area, an fuel mixture producing stn1cture disposed within said casing and connected to the upper endof said member, said member being formed with a valve-controlled air-inlet opening isolated from said casing openings, in fuel-igniting; unit extending; intosaid member-rat apoint. below said air inletopening, said casing being fiormedwitlr a third opening; a fitting within said casing and connected" to such third. opening, said fittingbeing formed. with a. pain otl air discharge ports one of which isdisposed: in direct communication with the inlet; opening of said member, a heat: exchange structure interposed between: the secondl portend the inlet opening of said member and: a. thermostaticallycontrolled valve assembly governing the discharge of air-through said ports.

2. A heater as specified in claim 1, a transverse partition within said casingz below the opening ofi said member to=isnlate such openingifrom the first named casing openings and said heat exchange structure comprising. an opening: formed in: said: partition concentric with said member, a sleeve mounted by said partition in line with said opening'and extending around said member, a flangeextending from. said member: to encircle said sleeve in spaced relationship. thereto and said. partition, flange and sleeve: together with saidmemberdefining a. tortuous path for air flow.

References. Cited-in. thefile at? this; patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS 

